June 3, 2021 - This month I'm going to look at two of the most successful products we have produced here at AVPro. They also happen to be incredibly timely solutions for today's customer. In any sales relationship, whether dealer-to-end user or manufacturer-to-dealer, the most satisfying scenario is one where we can provide a real solution to a real problem that our customer is experiencing. 

That's one of the reasons we qualify our customer, so we can uncover the need that exists and solve it with a product or service that we can provide. So it is with the AC-MX42-AUHD and its big brother the AC-MX82-AUHD/AC-MX82-AUHD-RM (rack mount). I don't think it's any secret that there are many great sounding AVR's and processors out there that sometimes fall short in the HDMI video switching department. Many times it's simply because video technology has advanced beyond the ability of the included video section to cope with. Occasionally it's because that particular part was supplied by a third party and it never really was up to the job. Of course we now have an added element - even if your customer does want to upgrade that AVR or processor you can't get one. Anywhere.  Full bandwidth high quality video switching is one of the things we do best, and we saw an opportunity to provide a real solution for a real need. 

Using our 4x2 and 8x2 switches we can move the video switching out of the AVR or processor while letting that existing component continue to handle the audio duties. Both switches have two HDMI outputs (one scalable to 1080p resolution), one Toslink digital audio out and a stereo analog output for 2ch PCM audio. Using "AVR mode" both HDMI outputs will track together allowing for simplified programming. And integrating either of these devices is a breeze with IR, RS-232 or IP control including free downloadable drivers for practically every current control system. Once integrated the customer will never know they are there except for the fact that their full bandwidth 18gbps 4K HDR signals will now work as promised. Both the 4x2 and 8x2 are very reasonably priced and represent a real value for the customer. In the near future you will even see full 48gbps 8K versions of these powerful solution pieces, offering even more future resistance. Whichever model you choose your customer will benefit from high-quality video switching while saving money, possibly keeping a great high-end audio piece they may have otherwise been forced to replace, and in some cases allowing you to finish a project that would otherwise be waiting for a product that simply can't be sourced currently. A true win-win!

This article is written by AVPro's Sales and Product Specialist Steve Baker.